Spiritual Disciplines For True Disciples – Matthew 6 Series

2025.02.23 Sermon Notes. SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES FOR TRUE DISCIPLES – MATTHEW 6.

William Akehurst, HSWC

Big Idea: JESUS teaches his followers Three Spiritual Disciplines regarding Giving/Charity, Fasting and Prayer toward GOD.

Scriptures: Matthew 6:1-34, Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 6:33, Ecclesiastes 5:2, James 4:2-3

(1) DO GOOD TO PLEASE GOD

JESUS’ WARNS AGAINST DOING GOOD TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS.

1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men

“Charitable deeds” is actually the word righteousness.

JESUS teaches to not do righteous things for the sake of display or image or to be seen known or seen by those things.

We are still to “let your light so shine before men (Matthew 5:16).

And be the “light of the world, a city set on a hill” (Matthew 5:14-15, but not for selfish reasons.

Christians ARE to be SEEN doing good works, but NOT for the purpose of being seen by others for their own glory.

“Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven”

It is much better to receive a reward from your Father in heaven.

THREE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES:

• GIVING (CHARITY)

• PRAYER

• FASTING

(2-4) WHEN YOU GIVE

WRONG AND RIGHT KINDS OF GIVING (Examples)

2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

WRONG GIVING:

When you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet:

In JESUS’ time, it was a custom for some to draw attention to their giving so they would be known as generous.

Today, people may not sound a trumpet to display generosity, but may still call attention to their giving.

As the hypocrites do:

Hypocrite is a Greek word for an actor, or one who acts as someone else.

hypocrites (‘hypocrite’) was an actor someone who puts on a show for others to see. But their acts didn’t define who they really are.

Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward:

One who gives to hear applause, should enjoy the applause as that is all they will receive. There will be no heavenly reward for those with motives of earthly reward.

RIGHT GIVING:

Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing:

SPURGEON: “Keep the thing so secret that even you yourself are hardly aware that you are doing anything at all praiseworthy. Let GOD be present, and you will have enough of an audience.”

THOUGHT: WHEN YOU GIVE, WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVE AND MOTIVATION?

For self-gratification and the praise of others?

Or to Glorify GOD?

POINT: GOD sees not only the act, but also the heart.

(5-6) WHEN YOU PRAY

WRONG AND RIGHT KINDS OF PRAYER (EXAMPLES)

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

WRONG WAYS TO PRAY

AGAIN, IT’S A HEART THING.

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites:

JESUS IS SAYING IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT PRAY AS THE HYPOCRITES…PUTTING ON A DISPLAY.

For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men:

These hypocrites didn’t pray to be heard by GOD, but to be SEEN by men.

Praying to impress others with our words is like using GOD as a tool to impress others and is insulting to GOD.

They have their reward: HERE Again, those praying to be seen of men have their reward, and that is all they will receive. There is no reward in heaven for such prayers.

RIGHT WAYS TO PRAYER

ITS A RIGHT/RIGHTEOUS “HEART” THING

But you, when you pray, go into your room, (closet, secret place)

A private place where we can impress no one except GOD.

A secret place, where our focus is on GOD alone

POINT: JESUS was not prohibiting public prayer but makes the point that our prayers are to be directed to GOD from our hearts and not prayed to impress man.